Drought-Tolerant Maize Varieties

Genetically Engineered Varities

• Genetically modified corn, also called transgenic maize, has been created for years to improve the plant's resistance to disease, pests and drought. Targeted genetic modification of corn varieties got a head start when scientists sequenced the genome for maize. Varieties of transgenic maize are usually given a letter and number designation, and they include MON 863 and MON 810. Both of these varieties were created by the Monsanto Company; only MON 810 has a commercial name, YieldGuard.

Drought-Tolerant Maize for Africa

• Scientists at the Drought-Tolerant Maize for Africa Initiative have been using traditional plant hybridization techniques to create maize strains that will grow in drought-plagued African countries like Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria. Many of these strains are given letter and number codes instead of variety names, and they are categorized by the country in which they were developed. Drought-resistant maize is available from the DTMAI for African growers.

Common Corn Species

• Many hybrids of the typical white, yellow or bi-color sweet corn that Americans are used to are already drought-resistant, and many of these maize hybrids can be purchased at garden stores for home planting. Standard, or self-pollinating, sweet corn varieties that are relatively resistant to drought include "Merit," "Pearl White," "Divinity" and "Lancelot." Open-pollinated sweet corn, or corn that can be pollinated by other species, varieties that have drought-resistance include "Country Gentleman" and "Black Aztec."

Hierloom Corn

• Some species of corn that have been around for centuries are also considered drought resistant. These heirloom varieties of corn can be resistant to wilting, low yields and small ear size because they were grown in areas with little rainfall. Not only are these heirloom varieties resistant to drought problems seen in other varieties, they produce lovely colored ears. "Oaxacan Green Dent" is a green maize variety native to Mexico that produces green kernels. "Bloody Butcher" produces red dent corn that tastes good roasted or in meal.